USA's BURN NOTICE returned last night
with the season six premiere, "Scored Earth." Picking up the moment that
season five left off, Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) goes on a very personal
vendetta against Anson Fullerton (Jere Burns, Justified), determined to
make him pay for his part in landing Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) in jail.
But Anson is not done yet, and has a few more tricks up his sleeve.
Generally, no matter how much serial
plot is included in a BURN NOTICE episode, the writers still force a
case of the week in to keep with their formula. "Scorched Earth" does
not have such an addition, which makes it that much better. BURN NOTICE
has some wonderful characters with a very interesting story. Why it
insists on being a procedural is beyond me, when "Scorched Earth" proves
that they can do better. I'm not saying ditch the clients entirely, but
they are not needed every week.
Admittedly, "Scorched Earth" starts a
little rough. For some reason, the acting between Donovan and Bruce
Campbell, who plays Michael's best friend, Sam, is absolutely horrible
in an early confrontation. The scene just sets one's teeth on edge.
These performers usually do so much better, and it feels like a bad,
cheesy TV movie for one entire scene. Then it recovers beautifully, and
the two men remind us why they can carry a series, playing more subtle,
nuanced, and less hammy for the rest of the hour.
Michael's anger, which oozes through
every minute of "Scored Earth," is an awesome thing to tackle. Yes,
viewers know that Michael is a spy who has done some seriously
questionable things in his life. But never before has he been this
scary. This episode changes that, showing fans exactly how bad Michael
can get, in a situation that no one would want to be in. Anson is
threatening Fiona, the love of Michael's life. As bad a guy as Anson has
been, and as dangerous as he seems, one is more concerned for his
safety than Michael's in this episode.
There is also something primal about
Michael's emotion, and there is a worry of how it might change him.
Should he lose Fiona permanently, it is very easy to picture how Michael
might go over the edge, blazing through everyone in his path,
single-mindedly destroying his own life while focused on one purpose. He
could not be easily stopped. This is a Michael that is not the likeable
characters fan of BURN NOTICE have grown accustomed to, and it's a side
of him that, while thrilling to see here, is not one that anyone is
eager to have brought out again.
Sam's loyalty is really driven home in
"Scorched Earth," as he is the only thing that stands between Michael
and psychotic. Unlike in other episodes, where Sam is content to let
Michael work through things, he never leaves Michael's side this time.
While Michael does give up a little too easily in the factory, giving
Sam a weird, unwarranted smile, Sam's constant presence, as well as wise
words, are what keep Michael from flying off the handle completely.
Were Sam not present in this situation, there is no doubt that things
would have ended much more tragically for someone, or multiple someones,
possibly Michael himself.
Agent Pearce (Lauren Stamile) also ends
up being a calming factor. She doesn't take Michael's crap, talking back
to him as he berates and bullies her. But she doesn't give up on him
either. She does find men to back up Michael, and comes to his aid. Her
chemistry with Michael, and what she represents for the show, have
really earned her a place on BURN NOTICE. Should the series want to add
another main character, and it should, she is candidate number one.
Anson is the lowest of the low, killing
innocents and going after Michael's loved ones to get what he wants. He
is also incredibly smart, which makes him the perfect villain for
Michael to go up against. Not easily defeated, every bit a match for our
hero, thank goodness BURN NOTICE does not kill him off, as it has done
with so many other recurring characters before their potential has been
fully realized. Look for Anson to reappear again, hopefully as the
ultimate antagonist at the end of the series.
In "Scored Earth," Anson sends a killer
after Michael's mother, Maddie (Sharon Gless). We have seen Maddie
handle herself time and again, and helped by her very quick mind. Which
is why she manages to hide from the murderer, and survive until help can
arrive.
Jesse (Coby Bell) runs to her rescue,
but letting Madeline save Jesse is a great twist, really giving the
actress something fun and brave to play. Every time Maddie gets a scene
like this, it reminds us that she is often wasted. Get her more
involved, writers! She can handle it!
While all of this is going on, Fiona
sits behind bars, being interrogated by a familiar face, Jason Bly (Alex
Carter). Bly is the prime example of how the good guys aren't always
all that good. On one hand, he is just doing his job, questioning a
known criminal. Lying to Fiona, telling her that Michael is dead, is a
smart tactic. On the other hand, though, viewers have come to love
Fiona, knowing that she has a good heart, and doesn't deserve to be put
through this pain. That's why Bly comes off as the one to hate here,
even if, from a totally objective viewpoint, he isn't doing anything
wrong.
Of course, Fiona doesn't buy that
Michael is dead. At first, it looks like she might believe it, but she
figures out the deception. She is worthy of Michael, and an equal
partner for him in every way. While behind bars, she will definitely be
missed in any hairy emergency that Michael and the others might face.
"Scored Earth" does a good job setting
up the larger arcs of the season, with Michael, Sam, and Pearce working
to clear Fiona's name, since Anson is not brought to justice, or yet
proven responsible for the crimes Fiona is accused of. It also gives
Michael somewhere to grow, both on a personal level, and a professional
one, as he must trust the system to maintain the new, legitimate life he
is building, even though his instincts are to fight it.
Will BURN NOTICE stretch out this story
for an entire season, only spending scant moments on it each week, while
helping client after client? Or will it stick to this much better
strategy of letting the characters fully explore themselves and their
situation for the entire hour? Common sense says the former,
unfortunately, but tuning in is the only way to know for sure. And even
when BURN NOTICE falls short of its potential, it still a pretty darn
entertaining show.
Watch BURN NOTICE, Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on USA.
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